Welcome to Tracker, NHMRC’s fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.
COVID-3D: "The scale that required is something we weren’t able to do without the Investigator Grant"
Early in 2020, the University of Melbourne’s Bio21 Institute/Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute team was working on protein modelling to better understand antimicrobial resistance for improved drug development. In March they turned their attention to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which had already undergone many mutations.
Nearly a year on and they are currently working on the UK and South African strains of the COVID-19 virus.
“This is the first time we have been able to do this across an entire pathogen. We could model all the proteins, we modelled every mutation of COVID-19, all the structural and functional consequences. The scale that required is something we weren’t able to do without the Investigator Grant.”
Read more about the work of Professor David Ascher and his team.
Investigator Grants 2021
The Investigator Grants 2021 round is now open. Minimum data is due 3 March 2021 and applications close 31 March 2021.
Further details regarding the scheme are available on GrantConnect and the NHMRC website.
In addition to the Investigator Grants 2021 Grant Guidelines, the following resources are available to assist applicants and RAOs prepare applications:
- Investigator Grant 2021: Key Changes factsheet
- 2021 Eligibility Web Tool
- Key Characteristics of Investigator Grant 2021 Applications
- Communique - Revised Relative to Opportunity Policy
- Investigator Grants 2021 Peer Review Guidelines
Relative to Opportunity Policy
NHMRC has revised its Relative to Opportunity Policy for track record assessment and is also trialling a new approach to assessment of Relative to Opportunity considerations in the 2021 Investigator Grant round.
A NHMRC communique explaining the changes is available on the 2021 Investigator Grants funding webpage.
Synergy Grant scheme - key application dates
The Synergy Grant scheme for funding commencing in 2022 is scheduled to open 24 February 2021. Minimum data is due 24 March 2021 and applications close 21 April 2021.
Update on Synergy Grants peer reviewer membership
NHMRC thanks all those who have accepted a preliminary invitation to participate as a Synergy Grants peer reviewer in 2021. A second round of invitations will be sent and NHMRC encourages members of the research community to contribute their expertise to the peer review process. Further information on NHMRC peer review will be sent to invitees in the coming months
Ideas Grant scheme - key application dates
The Ideas Grant scheme for funding commencing 2022 is scheduled to open 10 March 2021. Minimum data is due 7 April 2021 and applications close 5 May 2021.
You will need to use Sapphire to access or enter your CV and profile, and submit your application. If you anticipate applying for or being named on a grant (including as an Associate Investigator), please register to activate or register your Sapphire account well in advance of the Minimum Data deadline.
MRFF Grant Opportunities
The application due date for the following MRFF Grant Opportunities is 3 March 2021, with minimum data due on 17 February 2021:
- 2020 Cardiovascular Health Mission
- 2020 Genomics Health Futures Mission
- 2020 Stem Cell Therapies Mission
- 2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission
- 2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations, Round 2 (20.2)
A further 4 MRFF grant opportunities are currently open for applications in Sapphire. Minimum data deadlines and application close dates are detailed in the key application dates table below. Additional details on how to apply for MRFF grant opportunities is available on GrantConnect.
Further information on MRFF grant opportunities can be found here.
Clinicians and researchers are invited to express their interest in assisting with the assessment of MRFF applications as a member of a grant assessment committee. Register your interest via the online portal.
International Alliance seeks members for the Common Measures in Mental Health Science Advisory Group
The International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders (IAMHRF) unites funders on a shared mental health research agenda to save lives and improve treatments and care for patients and families worldwide. One of the network’s key efforts is to drive adoption of shared data collection instruments that are relevant and transferable to a variety of locations and areas of mental health research.
The IAMHRF is establishing a Common Measures in Mental Health Science Advisory Group (CMA), to be composed of experts in measuring mental health experiences, demographics, and functioning. The CMA will particularly focus on aspects of diversity, inclusivity, and cultural and geographical appropriateness of suggested measures to help improve the quality of research.
Information and the form to apply to be a member of the CMA is available here.
Applications close: midnight (AEST), 28 February 2021. For further information or inquiries, please contact: iamhrf@grahamboeckhfoundation.org
NHMRC-ERC Implementing Arrangement
NHMRC-funded researchers can apply to work with European research teams for up to a year during their grant period. Information about the current opportunities can be found here. Contact ERC for further details.
Sapphire Update – preparing for 2021 rounds
Researchers are strongly encouraged to start planning their grant applications early. This includes new users registering for a Sapphire account in advance of scheme opening dates to update their profile and become familiar with the system. Information on how to do this is available from the Sapphire landing page or on NHMRC’s Sapphire page.
Researchers are responsible for confirming that their profile data is complete and up-to-date prior to submitting an application, and/or to be considered for peer review. A summary of the key changes to a Sapphire Profile from RGMS, and NHMRC's recommendations for checking your profile data are available here.
Impact – the art of storytelling
NHMRC’s Dr Alex Aitkin and Dr Kiah Evans from the Telethon Kids Institute will discuss how you can demonstrate guideline impact at a GIN-ANZ webinar on Friday 12 March, 2021, 11-12PM AEDT.
For more information and to register your interest please go here.
NHMRC consultation on guidelines
NHMRC is currently seeking the views of guideline developers about guideline impact: What does impact mean to you, how you collect or use impact data and how do you evaluate impact.
For more information and to provide comment please go to: Do guidelines make a difference?
A Guidelines for Guidelines module on Transparency is currently available for consultation. NHMRC welcomes comments and feedback on this module via email to the Clinical Guidelines team.
Key application dates
Open
Funding scheme |
Open date |
Minimum data due |
Applications close |
MRFF Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative – 2020 Maternal Health and First 2000 Days, Early Childhood, and Exercise and Nutrition Grant Opportunity |
12-Oct-20 |
20-Jan-21 |
03-Feb-21 |
MRFF Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative - 2020 Efficient Use of Existing Medicines Grant Opportunity |
12-Oct-20 |
20-Jan-21 |
03-Feb-21 |
MRFF - Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative - 2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity |
07-Oct-20 |
20-Jan-21 |
03-Feb-21 |
MRFF International Clinical Trials Collaborations 20.2 Grant Opportunity |
02-Sep-20 |
17-Feb-21 |
03-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Genomics Health Futures Mission - Genomics Health Futures Mission Grant Opportunity |
16-Dec-20 |
17-Feb-21 |
03-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Traumatic Brain Injury Mission - 2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission Grant Opportunity |
16-Dec-20 |
17-Feb-21 |
03-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Stem Cell Therapies Mission - 2020 Stem Cell Therapies Grant Opportunity |
16-Dec-20 |
17-Feb-21 |
03-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Cardiovascular Health Mission - 2020 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity |
16-Dec-20 |
17-Feb-21 |
03-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative - 2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity |
14-Dec-20 |
24-Feb-2021 |
10-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission - 2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity |
16-Dec-20 |
24-Feb-21 |
10-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Indigenous Health Research Fund - 2020 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity |
18-Dec-20 |
24-Feb-21 |
10-Mar-21 |
MRFF - Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative - 2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity |
16-Dec-20 |
24-Feb-21 |
10-Mar-21 |
NHMRC e-ASIA 2021 Joint Research Program |
1-Feb-21 |
1-Mar-21 |
29-Mar-21 |
2021 Investigator Grants |
03-Feb-21 |
03-Mar-21 |
31-Mar-21 |
Special Initiative in Human Health and Environmental Change |
18-Nov-20 |
10-Mar-21 |
31-Mar-21 |
Partnership Projects 2021 PRC1 |
13-Jan-21 |
24-Mar-21 |
07-Apr-21 |
*NB schemes are in order of closing dates
Upcoming
Funding scheme |
Open date |
Minimum data due |
Applications close |
2021 Synergy Grants |
24-Feb-21 |
24-Mar- 21 |
21-Apr-21 |
2021 Ideas Grants |
10-Mar-21 |
07-Apr-21 |
05-May-21 |
2021 Postgraduate Scholarships |
14-Apr-21 |
12-May-21 |
09-Jun-21 |
Development Grants |
21-Apr-21 |
26-May-21 |
16-Jun-21 |
Partnership Projects 2021 PRC2 |
25-Mar-21 |
28-Jul-21 |
12-Aug-21 |
2021 Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants |
30-Jun-21 |
28-Jul-21 |
25-Aug-21 |
Partnership Projects 2021 PRC3 |
29-Jul-21 |
17-Nov-21 |
01-Dec-21 |
*NB schemes are in order of closing dates
Tracker
Previous editions of Tracker are available on the NHMRC website.
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